noun
soju
SOHD-zhoo
Soju (noun) means a clear, distilled Korean alcoholic drink, similar to vodka but typically lower in alcohol. Example: “They ordered a bottle of soju to share with the barbecue.”
noun
1
A clear, distilled Korean alcoholic drink, similar to vodka but typically lower in alcohol.
"They ordered a bottle of soju to share with the barbecue."
"I'd also woken up with a raging thirst from the bottle and a half of soju I'd had with dinner, which also meant I was taking longer to come to my senses than usual."
— Han Kang, translated by Deborah Smith (2015)
How to use soju
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA popular Korean spirit, often drunk with meals or shared in rounds.
Easily confused with
shochu
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Word forms
- Plural
- sojus
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They ordered a bottle of _____ to share with the barbecue.
Etymology
From Korean soju (소주), literally "burned liquor" — a relative of the Japanese drink shochu.
Frequently asked questions
What does “soju” mean?
The word “soju” means a clear, distilled Korean alcoholic drink, similar to vodka but typically lower in alcohol. In plain terms, a popular Korean spirit, often drunk with meals or shared in rounds.
How do you pronounce “soju”?
“Soju” is pronounced SOHD-zhoo (/ˈsoʊd͡ʒuː/ in IPA).
How do you use “soju” in a sentence?
Here is “soju” used in a sentence: “They ordered a bottle of soju to share with the barbecue.”
What part of speech is “soju”?
“Soju” is a noun.
Where does the word “soju” come from?
The word “soju” comes from Japanese. From Korean soju (소주), literally "burned liquor" — a relative of the Japanese drink shochu.
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